Paper Portraits of NYC
Paper Portraits of NYC
In this intimate short film by fellow New Yorkers, Grant Duff and Diamar Beltran-Taylor, Bronx-based artist and designer Lauren Camara opens the door to her world of layered paper portraits. Entirely self-taught, Lauren meticulously cuts, arranges, and builds her pieces from hundreds of fragments—each layer revealing emotion, memory, and meaning. Her art transforms ordinary moments into radiant visual stories that speak to both the beauty of simplicity and the depth of human experience.
Through her process and reflections, we witness not only her mastery of craft but also the creative spirit of the Bronx—a place where resilience, color, and imagination come together to tell powerful stories.
Film Maker
Film Master
Lauren Camara
- Craft
- Collage Artist
- Country
- USA
Lauren Camara is a Bronx-based, self-taught artist and graphic designer
who creates layered, graphic, and colorful portraits exclusively from
meticulously cut and layered paper. Her work transforms everyday
encounters into visual stories, capturing both the beauty of simple
moments and the complex narratives they hold.
Lauren is one of eight New York City artists selected by the NYC
Department of Cultural Affairs for City Canvas, which brings art to public
spaces across the city. Her work is currently on public display at 31
Chambers Street in Lower Manhattan, in the Capital One Lounge at JFK
Airport, and as part of the Fine Art Program and Collection at Montefiore
Einstein in the Bronx. Most recently, she was featured in the Photoville
Festival, New York City’s largest annual photography event. Her artwork
has also appeared on a signature cocktail in celebration of Women’s
History Month, featured across Capital One Lounges at Dallas Fort
Worth, Washington Dulles, and Denver airports.
In 2024, Lauren debuted her NYC solo show, Stories in Paper,
presented by Art on the Ave NYC. Her work is also on display in
residential buildings throughout the Bronx and held in numerous private
collections.
Lauren’s work aims to highlight the beauty in simple moments and the
complex stories they tell. Her art is not just about aesthetics — it’s
about the people and connections that inspire her.